Citizens of the town of Ostelsheim in the district of Kalow, Baden-Württemberg, elected the town’s mayor, the young Syrian Rayan al-Shibl, with a large majority. Yesterday evening, according to the German newspaper “Stern” and “Dutce Villa” website, the municipality announced that the Syrian refugee who came to Germany in 2015 and comes from As-Suwayda Governorate won an absolute majority with 55.41% of the votes.

The new 29-year-old mayor ran as an independent candidate, and Al-Shibl defeated both candidates.

“I have made history,” the new mayor wrote on his Facebook page, noting that winning the post was “a great honor and a great responsibility” and that it came “after a tough and exciting election campaign and fair elections.” Thanking everyone who participated in the election, especially those who did not vote for him, he insisted that he would be “mayor for everyone”.

Al-Shibl confirmed his commitment to implementing his electoral plan, which was announced during the campaign, seeking the cooperation of all his colleagues in the city council “to shape the future of Ausselsheim”. The new mayor is set to assume his duties on June 18.

In 2015, when she was 21 years old, Kuti fled her home town of Sweda in southern Syria. For the past seven years he worked as an administrative assistant in the municipality of Altungsteit. As mayor, Kutty now plans to move to Osselsheim, he said, according to Der Spiegel’s website.